The AW609 Tiltrotor [N609AG], a hybrid between an airplane and helicopter, capable of taking off vertically was on a test flight in Northern Italy [October 30], when it crashed between the areas of Santhia and Tronzano, 30 miles from AgustaWestland’s Cascina Costa site and nearby Vergiate production facility.

Flight-tracking suggests the tiltrotor departed from Milan’s Malpensa airport at around 09:30 UTC.

Italy’s national agency for flight safety, ANSV, has now opened an investigation into the incident,

AgustaWestland have confirmed the crash on Twitter.

Confirmation of AC crash on Twitter account of AgustaWestland

AgustaWestland put out the following brief statement “AgustaWestland confirms the loss of one prototype AW609 tiltrotor and the tragic loss of two pilots. The Company’s deepest sympathies are with the families. ”